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MP's arrest not Stalinist - Smith MP's arrest not Stalinist - Smith
(about 1 hour later)
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has refused to apologise for the arrest of shadow immigration minister Damian Green.Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has refused to apologise for the arrest of shadow immigration minister Damian Green.
Ms Smith was asked on the BBC's Andrew Marr programme if she would say sorry - but said it would be wrong for her to intervene in a police investigation. Ms Smith told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme it would be wrong for her to intervene in a police investigation.
Had she intervened it would have been "Stalinist" as she believed in the principle of police being independent even when things get "tricky". She said to do so would have been itself "Stalinist", because of the principle of police being independent.
But William Hague told the BBC Politics Show her reply was "not adequate". But shadow foreign secretary William Hague told the BBC Politics Show her reply was "not adequate".
'Not good enough''Not good enough'
Meanwhile Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg told the same programme the claim that she did not know the arrest was looming was either "implausible" or showed "incompetence".Meanwhile Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg told the same programme the claim that she did not know the arrest was looming was either "implausible" or showed "incompetence".
Conservative leader David Cameron challenged ministers to condemn the arrest. Conservative leader David Cameron has challenged ministers to condemn the arrest.
Writing in the News of the World, the Tory leader said Gordon Brown's stance so far was "not good enough".Writing in the News of the World, the Tory leader said Gordon Brown's stance so far was "not good enough".
"The question is: does he think it is right for an MP who has apparently done nothing to breach our national security - and everything to inform the public of information they're entitled to know - to have his home and office searched by a dozen counter-terrorist police officers, his phone, blackberry and computers confiscated, and to be arrested and held for nine hours?" he said."The question is: does he think it is right for an MP who has apparently done nothing to breach our national security - and everything to inform the public of information they're entitled to know - to have his home and office searched by a dozen counter-terrorist police officers, his phone, blackberry and computers confiscated, and to be arrested and held for nine hours?" he said.
And, with MPs from all parties angered by the incident, David Winnick - a Labour member of the home affairs select committee - says he wants an "immediate statement" from Ms Smith when Parliament resumes on Wednesday. The idea that you charge in to impact on operational independence when things get a bit hot, is not a principled position Jacqui Smith In quotes: Green arrest And, with MPs from all parties angered by the incident, David Winnick - a Labour member of the home affairs select committee - said he wanted an "immediate statement" from Ms Smith when Parliament resumes on Wednesday. The idea that you charge in to impact on operational independence when things get a bit hot, is not a principled position Jacqui Smith In quotes: Green arrest
He says the search of Damien Green's Commons office was a serious breach of parliamentary privilege. He said the search of Damien Green's Commons office was a serious breach of parliamentary privilege.
Commons leader Harriet Harman told Sky News that "very big issues" had been raised, adding that she was aware of the strength of feeling amongst MPs and the threat to parliamentary privilege and their ability to hold the government to account.Commons leader Harriet Harman told Sky News that "very big issues" had been raised, adding that she was aware of the strength of feeling amongst MPs and the threat to parliamentary privilege and their ability to hold the government to account.
But she said MPs could not be above the law and said there would be a review of the full constitutional implications once the police investigation was concluded.But she said MPs could not be above the law and said there would be a review of the full constitutional implications once the police investigation was concluded.
Ex-Tory home secretary Ken Clarke told the Andrew Marr Show he thought the case was "outrageous... this is an abuse of police powers, this is President Nixon's America - harassing a political opponent of the government. It should stop".
Gordon Brown and Ms Smith have denied any "prior knowledge" of the arrests - as part of an investigation into leaks embarrassing to the Home Office - saying the matter was one for the police.Gordon Brown and Ms Smith have denied any "prior knowledge" of the arrests - as part of an investigation into leaks embarrassing to the Home Office - saying the matter was one for the police.
Ms Smith told BBC One's Andrew Marr programme: "There have been a lot of charges thrown around here - the idea that, you know, this is Stalinism, this is a police state.Ms Smith told BBC One's Andrew Marr programme: "There have been a lot of charges thrown around here - the idea that, you know, this is Stalinism, this is a police state.
"In my book, Stalinism and a police state happens when ministers direct and interfere with specific investigations that the police are carrying out. "In my book, Stalinism and a police state happens when ministers direct and interfere with specific investigations that the police are carrying out."
'Systematic leaks''Systematic leaks'
Ms Smith, who also declined to condemn the fact police searched Mr Green's office in the House of Commons, said the leak investigation was launched at the request of the Cabinet Office and the head civil servant at the Home Office, and not by her.Ms Smith, who also declined to condemn the fact police searched Mr Green's office in the House of Commons, said the leak investigation was launched at the request of the Cabinet Office and the head civil servant at the Home Office, and not by her.
She added that the leaks in the public domain were not necessarily all the things which formed the "systematic series of leaks... breaches of security" which were being investigated.She added that the leaks in the public domain were not necessarily all the things which formed the "systematic series of leaks... breaches of security" which were being investigated.
Pressed about what she knew when, Ms Smith said she had known there was a leak inquiry going on and knew in advance that a Home Office official was being arrested as part of it on 11 November.Pressed about what she knew when, Ms Smith said she had known there was a leak inquiry going on and knew in advance that a Home Office official was being arrested as part of it on 11 November.
There is no crime, this is an abuse of police powers, this is President Nixon's America - harassing a political opponent of the government. It should stop Ken ClarkeEx-Tory home secretary Q&A: Damian Green arrestedThere is no crime, this is an abuse of police powers, this is President Nixon's America - harassing a political opponent of the government. It should stop Ken ClarkeEx-Tory home secretary Q&A: Damian Green arrested
But she said she did not know about the raid or arrest of Mr Green before they happened.But she said she did not know about the raid or arrest of Mr Green before they happened.
Ms Smith also said she believed that opposition politicians should be able to hold the government to account, and insisted the investigation was not ordered because of politically embarrassing leaks but because of the security implications for the Home Office.Ms Smith also said she believed that opposition politicians should be able to hold the government to account, and insisted the investigation was not ordered because of politically embarrassing leaks but because of the security implications for the Home Office.
"The idea that you charge in to impact on operational independence when things get a bit hot, is not a principled position," she said."The idea that you charge in to impact on operational independence when things get a bit hot, is not a principled position," she said.
The Independent on Sunday has separately reported that offices of senior Tories, including Mr Green, were routinely swept for electronic bugging devices as they feared they were being spied on.The Independent on Sunday has separately reported that offices of senior Tories, including Mr Green, were routinely swept for electronic bugging devices as they feared they were being spied on.
Ms Smith said that she had not signed any warrant to approve the bugging of Mr Green.Ms Smith said that she had not signed any warrant to approve the bugging of Mr Green.
Mr Green was not charged with any offence after his arrest on Thursday but was released on bail until February, when he could face further questioning. Mr Green was not charged with any offence after his arrest on Thursday, but was released on bail until February, when he could face further questioning.
The Ashford MP, the Tories' immigration spokesman since 2005, has denied any wrongdoing and said "opposition politicians have a duty to hold the government to account".The Ashford MP, the Tories' immigration spokesman since 2005, has denied any wrongdoing and said "opposition politicians have a duty to hold the government to account".